In particular, the document proposes to reinforce civil preparation so that the citizens of the European Union have “A self -sufficiency of at least 72 hours”, Time that qualify as a key during any emergency. It should be noted that the plan remains in the degree of suggestions and depends on member countries to follow or ignore them.
“In case of extreme interruptions, public authorities may not be able to meet the basic needs of the entire population during the initial period of a crisis. Therefore, individuals and homes can be sustained independently during the first three days, guaranteeing access to essential needs such as water, food, medicines and basic services Before the arrival of external aid, “says the 18 -page text.
The initiative is launched months after the publication of a broad preparation report before the crisis prepared by former Finnish president Sauli Niinisto, who found numerous gaps in the response system of the European Bloc before emergencies.
A problem that they seek to remedy harmonizing the protocols between nations and promoting more awareness actions by the governments of their integral nations. Something that states such as Sweden, Norway and Finland have already been advanced, who have already disseminated among their population on what to do in times of crisis. It is no accident that these countries are quite close to Russia, geographically speaking.
In addition to encouraging the creation of emergency kits, the document also pretends as well as coordinate at European level the strategic reserves of priority resources such as food, medicines (including vaccines), energy and key raw materials.
What is in the ‘resilience backpack’?
These food would be gathered in an emergency package that the document has nicknamed “resilience backpack”, which must have a dozen products considered essential for survival. And while the document suggests that the content of these packages changes according to countries and families-for example, in question to the necessary medications-maintains basic elements that must undoubtedly be.
This is the basics for an ’emergency kit’ according to Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparation and Crisis Management.
- Water and food reserves for three days
- Important documents in protective micas
- Lighting: flashlights, matches and lighters.
- Multi -causted tools such as Swiss knives (or individual tools such as knives, scissors, opening booties, screwdrivers, etc.)
- Medications, particularly care to have enough of those that are necessary for each family member.
- Cash.
- A cell phone charger and an external battery.
- A radio.
- Letters to play
A new (and scary) world
For Enrique Banús, internationalist and director of the Institute of European Studies of the University of Piura, there is no doubt that the publication of these recommendations is mainly due to the double blow that the Russian invasion to Ukraine and the degeneration of the relationship between Europe and the United States under the administration of Donald Trump.
“Apart from the recommendations that the European Commission is giving, countries are also reactivating strategies of an era that we thought had happened as the drills using sirens,” he says in conversation with Commerce. “And this is because the panorama has changed a lot and Europe has remained in the hands of two characters not reliable like Putin and Trump, who coincidentally seem to get along very well”.
A situation aggravated by the fact that the US president does not seem to have a firm strategy to deal with his Russian counterpart: “You are seeing how any agreement is resisting and how, in addition, Trump does not have many aces in the manga to deal with him,” says Banús. “Certainly his strategy of threatening to ‘make the Armageddon fall’ against those who disobey it does not work with Moscow and we see how Washington has changed his usual speech and now tries to decorate them with the promise of great economic advantages.”
For his part, his colleague César Llona, a professor at the International Business Career at the University of Lima, considers that we are facing the ‘Finning’ of the European Strategy in Prevention and Security, in reference to the European Nation that shares a 1,800 kilometers border with Russia. “Finland has long already had an internal integral security approach that part of citizens And, for example, all buildings from a certain size must have bunkers ”-
In his opinion, the announcement of the Union preparation strategy fulfills several purposes: Internationally, it presents the image of an autonomous and integrated continent, while at European level it begins to generate a unified narrative of prevention and resilience. Additionally, it raises the level of consciousness of European countries regarding what they perceive as the Russian threat, since there are degrees in the concern of the countries, which are directly proportional to the distance at which they are from Moscow.
However, Llona warns that the announcement could have negative consequences by giving a message “as a war economy” that can have a negative impact on population stability, democracies of their countries and even in the investment climate. “Europe must have a midpoint between sending a sign of decision and concern without falling into alarmism,” he says.
In addition, he states that the announcement could have consequences as to the already deteriorated relationship with Russia. “It is an advertisement published at a fairly inopportune and will undoubtedly be read in a key to antagonism by Moscow“, He says.” It could even harm the possibility that Europe has a stronger presence in the peace conferences that will be given now. “
A situation to which the European Union itself seems sensitive, with Hadja Lahbib, European commissioner of equality, preparation and crisis management, justifying the decision to now announce the union preparation strategy As a way to prevent the disorder that occurred in a situation such as the recent Covid-19 pandemicAlthough he noticed that you have to maintain a balance between keeping citizens informed and panic.
“It is necessary for citizens to be aware of possible threats and prepare for them,” he said. “But at the same time, it is not good that they be scared in excess of everything. Especially today, when there are so many possibilities of misinformation in social networks.”